Pershal Early Origins

The surname Pershal was first found in Staffordshire where they held an estate now known as Pearshall, Peshale or Pershall. "The family are of Norman origin, having been founded a the place referred to by Robert, a follower of Robert of Stafford, early in the reign of the Conqueror." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. Robert Fitz Gilbert de Corbeil, acquired the manor of Peshale, and his son Robert was the first to begin calling himself de Peshale after the name of this manor.

Pershal Spelling Variations

Pershal Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Pershal family name include Pearsall, Pershall, Persall, Parsil, Parcell, Parcel and many more.

Pershal Early History

Pershal Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pershal research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1341, 1374, 1376, 1376, 1531, 1629, 1539, 1795 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Pershal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pershal Early Notables (pre 1700)

Pershal Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 19 words (1 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pershal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Pershal family to immigrate North America: Jonas Parshall, who settled in Virginia in 1620; Thomas Pearsall, who arrived in Virginia in 1631; Henry Pearsall, who arrived in Long Island in 1657.

Other References

Bede, The Venerable. Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History Of the English People). Available through Internet Medieval Sourcebook the Fordham University Centre for Medieval Studies. Print.

Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.

Burke, Sir Bernard. Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, The Privy Council, Knightage and Compainonage. London: Burke Publishing, 1921. Print.

The Pershal Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Pershal Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.